Summit County students show good growth on TCAP

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Summit School District students showed mostly above-average growth gains on last school year's Transitional Colorado Assessment Program scores compared to their peers, according to just released information from the state.

The growth assessment differs from that of regular scores, released a few weeks earlier, in that it compares students' growth on the test to those of their "like peers" from across the state. So, a third-grade boy who consistently earns grades of 50 in math is compared to others around Colorado in the same boat.

While most of the report showed gains above the state standard - which is 50 - the school district's director of assessment, Bethany Massey, said the biggest standout was Dillon Valley Elementary's growth in fifth-grade math. The class scored in the 89th percentile.

"Those are huge growth gains," Massey said.

Typical growth range is 35-65.

She attributed the progress to DVE's staff, which has been engaging in "double-dipping," or extra teaching time for students who need help in specific subjects.

"They were getting that content area they were low in twice a day," Massey said.

The teachers gave the extra tutoring, as well as Cathy Beck, the school's principal.

Growth percentiles below the state's median were reading at Upper Blue, Silverthorne and Frisco elementaries (in the 37th, 49th and 45th percentiles, respectively); writing at Upper Blue, with growth in the 32nd percentile; and math at Upper Blue, Summit Cove and Breckenridge (with growth in the 30th percentile, 48th and 45th, respectively).

Massey said the district will be looking at the scores - good or bad - and determining what they need to do.

Looking at the disaggregated results - broken down by groups like male or female, English-language learner, white and Hispanic - district superintendent Heidi Pace seemed pleased at Tuesday's board meeting, and pointed out that gifted students scored in the 59th or 60th percentile in reading, writing and math. That's encouraging considering they were being compared to other gifted students around the state, and continue to show gains, said Pace.

School Boardmember J Kent McHose, who tends to focus on issues related to English-language learners, was optimistic concerning the group's scores.

"The ELL at 57 percent (in math) is very encouraging," he said. "That's good news all across the board."

The TCAP tests students in grades three through 10 in reading, writing and math. Science evaluations are given to grades five, eight and 10.

TCAP scores show Summit students did equal to or better than other students across the state in almost all content areas.